PhD Study : Predictors of surgical outcomes in knee osteoarthritis.

Summary

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a common type of arthritis in Northern Ireland. A debilitating condition, sufferers report locking, grinding and instability of the knee, with severe difficulties in walking, standing, domestic and occupational activities. While conservative management is appropriate, those most severely affected are referred for orthopaedic surgery. Long waiting times for treatment leads to the development of chronic debilitating pain, poor quality of life with negative impacts on patients’ mental health. Despite surgical removal of the peripheral degenerative knee joint, some patients report ongoing pain post- surgery. This has been suggested to be caused by ongoing sensitivity of a patient’s nervous system, whereby their central nervous system reacts disproportionately to usually non-harmful stimuli e.g light pressure or has altered detection of stimuli e.g. vibration. Studies have shown that the presence of increased pain sensitivity and severity before surgery, may help to predict the likelihood of a poorer outcome.

The aim of this PhD is to explore if measuring pain sensitivity can be used to predict outcomes post-surgery. The proposed project will consist of four studies:

Study 1: A systematic review + meta-analysis to explore the current evidence-base for the use of pain profiling of pain sensitivity in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain including knee OA.

Study 2: Identify patients from an existing data set and explore psychological and physical variables and map to patient reported outcomes.

Study 3: Identify a subset of patients with both positive and negative outcomes within study 2 and map their psychological and pain profiles using a procedure that the student will receive training for.

Study 4: Identify a cohort of patients waiting for knee surgery and assess these patients pre- and post-operatively.  The study will capture the patients’ pain profile, and standard physical and psychological outcomes, pre- and post-operatively.

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Masters at 65%
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living